Vietnam urges progress on US trade pact, outlines high-tech priorities

Vietnam wants negotiations with the US on a reciprocal trade agreement concluded soon, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc told a summit. He also sought balanced and objective US assessments in trade investigations to support stable access for Vietnamese exports.

Tuc said Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW would underpin a change in investment policy, with platforms built around innovation ecosystems and industrial clusters replacing the pursuit of standalone projects. The government would accelerate institutional reform and tackle infrastructure constraints, he said.

Priorities for cooperation with the US include artificial intelligence, semiconductors, clean energy and sustainable supply chains, alongside innovation and training for highly skilled workers. Tuc said economic growth reached 9.01 per cent over the first nine months of 2026, while registered foreign direct investment exceeded US$50 billion and trade turnover totalled US$888 billion.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam and the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) organised the summit and a seminar. At the seminar, VCCI Vice Chairman Hoang Quang Phong encouraged Vietnamese firms to establish their own brands and enter production stages offering greater added value, moving beyond exports of raw materials and minimally processed goods.

An The Dung, a former Vietnamese Trade Counsellor in the US, said exporters faced risks from changing policies, quality problems and legal disputes. He called for stronger policy-risk assessments and tighter production oversight, especially concerning food hygiene and safety, alongside better disclosure and standardised management procedures.